Chapter Twelve: Alex's Upgrade
It had been a couple of days since Brady got his Digi-Modify cards, and Alex was eager to see if he could get the same kind of boost for his own Digivice. The group had gathered again, this time at Alex's house. The excitement in the air was palpable as everyone settled into the living room.
"I don't know how you managed to get those cards, Brady," Alex said, half-joking. "But it looks like you've got an edge on us."
Brady grinned. "Hey, I'm not complaining. It's like having a power-up cheat code." Terriermon, sitting on Brady's shoulder, nodded in agreement.
"I think it's time you got your own," Takato said as he entered the room, holding another metal case similar to the one Brady had gotten. Alex's eyes widened with surprise.
"Wait, what? Are those…" Alex trailed off, staring at the case in Takato's hands.
Takato set the case on the coffee table and opened it, revealing a fresh set of Digi-Modify cards. Each card had the same design as Brady's, but the effects were different. There was one labeled Mega Shield, another called Power Surge, and several others that Alex couldn't quite make out yet.
"Yeah, we had a bunch of these stored away from when I was a Tamer," Takato explained. "I always thought I'd pass them on to you once you were ready."
Alex picked up the deck, carefully flipping through the cards. "I don't know if I'm ready for all of this."
"You'll figure it out," Takato said with a reassuring smile. "These cards don't make you stronger on their own. You have to learn to use them at the right moment."
Alex felt the weight of the responsibility settling in. His Digivice had been part of him for so long, but this was new territory. He glanced at Kari, who was sitting next to him, and her encouraging smile made him feel a little more confident.
"So, how does it work?" he asked, looking up at his dad.
"You swipe them through your Digivice," Takato explained. "Each one has a different ability, but they all enhance your Digimon's power in some way. It's all about timing—just like everything else in the Digital World."
Alex nodded, then glanced at Guillaumon. "Guess it's time to see what these can really do."
Brady couldn't help but tease. "You better not slow down now, Alex. I'm not gonna let you beat me with those cards."
Alex chuckled. "I'll do my best."
He swiped the first card labeled Power Surge through his Digivice. Immediately, a rush of energy flowed through him, and Guillaumon began to glow with a bright blue aura. The fire in his eyes burned brighter as his body pulsed with new strength.
"Guillaumon!" Alex called out, watching as his partner stood taller, his flame-like hair flickering with even more intensity. "This is amazing."
Guillaumon flexed his arms, his grin wide. "I feel unstoppable!" His voice echoed with newfound confidence.
Brady watched with a smirk. "Guess we're not the only ones with upgrades now."
Alex held up another card, this one labeled Mega Shield. He swiped it through his Digivice, and an energy barrier materialized around Guillaumon, shimmering like a protective shield.
"Now we're talking!" Guillaumon shouted, bouncing on his feet as he tested the shield.
Kari, watching from the side, raised her eyebrows. "That's pretty cool."
Takato nodded. "Just be careful with those. Like I said, they're powerful, but they're not invincible. You've still got to be strategic about how you use them."
"I get it," Alex said, a bit more serious now. "I'll make sure I don't waste them."
Brady grinned. "It's gonna be fun watching you get the hang of those cards. But don't get too cocky. I've still got my tricks."
Alex rolled his eyes. "You and your tricks."
As the group laughed, Alex's heart raced with excitement. The Digi-Modify cards were going to change everything. He could already feel the bond between him and Guillaumon growing stronger as they both adapted to their new powers.
"Thanks, Dad," Alex said, his voice filled with gratitude.
Takato smiled warmly. "Anytime. I'm proud of you, son."
The room quieted for a moment as everyone exchanged looks. This new chapter of their journey was only beginning, and now, with the Digi-Modify cards in hand, they were ready to face whatever challenges the Digital World had in store.